39 A University Wide Approach for an Inclusive Curriculum for a Sustainable Future

Dr Niamh Power outlined MTU’s journey toward embedding Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at an institutional scale. Recognising that sustainability cannot be advanced in silos, MTU has developed a university-wide framework that integrates ESD into strategy, policy, curriculum design, and review processes.

The process began with the MTU Strategic Plan, where sustainability and the UN SDGs were identified as strategic enablers. This commitment was operationalised through the curriculum framework, adapted from the national N-TUTORR framework but enhanced with MTU’s own emphasis on student-centred learning, inclusivity, and sustainability competencies. UNESCO’s ESD competencies and the EU’s GreenComp framework underpin this work, ensuring graduates develop not only knowledge but also skills in systems thinking, anticipatory decision-making, and responsibility.

Policies for programme design and approval now explicitly require sustainability to be addressed, while the Faculty Enhancement Review process ensures compliance and continuous improvement. The newly launched Sustainability Strategy 2025–2035 adds further weight, with 100 action points assigned to responsible individuals, spanning education, operations, and culture.

Dr Power emphasised that this approach is not about ticking boxes but about creating a culture of sustainability visible across the university environment. By aligning strategic leadership with staff training, curriculum review, and student engagement, MTU aims to graduate students with the competencies to lead in a sustainable future, while modelling sustainability through its own practices.

About the author

name: Dr Niamh Power

institution: Munster Technological University

Dr Niamh Power is a Lecturer in Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at Munster Technological University and Chairperson of the Environmental Science Association of Ireland.